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Sharon Byrne, executive director of the Milpas Community Association (MCA), is running for the Santa Barbara City Council. Suddenly, what was already an interesting election is now more intriguing and more complicated. Up for grabs are three incumbent seats currently held by conservative councilmembers who hold the majority. They’re also the ones who’ve been Byrne’s closest allies in city government — and they are none too pleased by the announcement.

As for the homeless and their advocates, they view Byrne as wanting to run them out of town or into jail. Though Byrne insists she is not anti-homeless, the fact that she heads the group singularly responsible for beefing up police enforcement of illegal-lodging, open-container, and drunk-in-public offenses — laws typically aimed at the homeless — means that, in their minds, she couldn’t be more so.

Byrne says she’s running because she’s frustrated with a decline in the city’s quality of life. She points to, among other things, the recent spate of burglaries in San Roque and a lackadaisical attitude toward homeless camps along the freeway. Though the City Council’s conservative majority has been responsive to the MCA’s concerns, Byrne says it hasn’t acted strongly enough or quickly enough. Take, for example, the field trip to Santa Monica that the MCA arranged for city officials. Byrne wonders what effect it had. “We looked at some effective policies [toward homelessness down there]. What movement have you seen on that?” she asked. “It’s been four months.”

Byrne was one of 46 residents who applied for appointment to the council seat vacated by Assemblymember Das Williams in January. In that process, she received votes from councilmembers Dale Francisco, Frank Hotchkiss, and Michael Self — the entire conservative flank minus Randy Rowse (who was subsequently appointed). Now, she’s running against Francisco and Self.

Does she feel guilty? “Yes, I do,” she said. “But I think what’s more important is to focus on the community and its needs. Plus, I am turned off by partisan politics, rites of ascension, payback, and anointing candidates. I don’t like the division created by ‘our side should be in power’ tactics.”

“I confess I was disappointed when I learned that Sharon had decided to run for City Council this fall,” said Hotchkiss in an email. “She had been a staunch supporter of our team, even volunteering to walk precincts at one point for the incumbent candidates, so it was a real surprise to realize that she wanted to replace one of the people she formerly supported.” Joining Byrne in the City Council bid is fellow MCA cofounder and boardmember Sebastian Aldana. Aldana, who has similarly expressed concern that City Hall is quick to forget the needs of Milpas Street residents and business owners, said the two will be running separate campaigns.

However, some see a council that has been quite responsive to more than just the MCA’s concerns. Additional police officers have been hired and the department’s Restorative Policing program has been greatly enhanced by personnel to deal with the problem of street homelessness. Enforcement has also increased, a fence was erected around the Cabrillo Ball Field’s bleachers, and there have been council hearings on “offensive” transient behavior. Byrne believes none of that would have happened without MCA’s aggressive advocacy.

“Sharon has been involved with three things politically in the city,” said Francisco recently. “Marijuana dispensaries, homelessness, and gangs. I don’t think there’s a whole lot of difference between her position on those issues and the incumbents’.” As for the Santa Monica trip, Francisco said, “I’m grateful to Sharon for organizing that trip. It’s obvious that not only did we learn things from Santa Monica, but we’re implementing them.”

And as far as the homeless are concerned, Byrne maintains she is not anti-homeless — that saying so is like saying you’re anti-puppies. Everybody wants to help the homeless, she said. But she wants policies that are effective, not just compassionate. “Where can I get the most return on that investment [of city dollars]? I think that’s what it comes down to.”

Comments

Santa Barbara homeless should be helped. However, it should be noted that 77% of the homeless in Santa Barbara were homeless prior to coming to Santa Barbara. (according to the recent homeless survey) Although we all should help our indigenous homeless population, it should be done in a way that discourages homeless from outside the city from relocating here.

Being against homelessness, the homeless is like being against puppies??? Or does she mean it's like being against unneutered dogs -> profusion of puppies? Or? She needs a better choice of similes. Fwiw, often compassion is the first step towards effectiveness and sometimes may be the only step that goes anywhere helpful.

She takes too much credit for herself. It is not all about her. From what I can see around the lower Milpas area, with the exception of the fence around the ball field home base area, things look and seem exactly the same, especially around the Trader Joe's parking lot/Quinientos side.

Stirring up hate, let alone being leader of the pack will of course appeal to many voters in this strange time. Taking credit where credit is not due is another problem of integrity for this candidate. And perhaps it could be logically reasoned that any reported increase in crime in other parts of our community is just another scare tactic or even caused by taking away so many police hours away from policing to do social services work.

Lucy Sharon Byrne is clever but not very smart or financially conservative. Put this candidate in the same category as Self, Francisco, Hotchkiss and Rowse. You wouldn't vote for Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachman, Meg Whitman or Newt. Why would you vote for any of these candidates.

There is a vast right wing red shirt conspiracy and yes the objective is to move into every aspect of government and turn the U.S.A into a certain sect of a christian state. Please be careful of these irrational candidates stirring up hate over silly issues.

The killing of homosexuals in Africa is done by Muslims or by those of traditional African tribal beliefs (not Christian).But I do agree, religion in politics is a bad thing. Just look @ Iran & remember, over there (according to the dude in the dinner jacket) they "don't have that problem" (w/ reference to homosexuals :) henry

RE: " Byrne maintains she is not anti-homeless — that saying so is like saying you’re anti-puppies. Everybody wants to help the homeless, she said. But she wants policies that are effective, not just compassionate. “Where can I get the most return on that investment".

If that kind of level headed moderate statement is what we could expect of Sharon, maybe Randy should rethink the statement he made, which was the reason d'etre of his appointment to counsel, that he would not run again. Byrne has him, and his "conservative" colleagues, out-classed.

Byrne is out there in the streets tusslin' with the homies who wanna bang on her corner while Dale et al live it up in swanky digs up on the hill. Love her or hate her, ya gotta admit that Byrne is a force, and without her, the MCA would be a Paper Tiger, a non-entity.

Randy was quoted in a newspaper-like entity (SBNP) as saying that he doesn't know anything about the politics of his own campaign manager. I find that to be quite a ludicrous remark for a public official who wields so much power.

When Randy took office he referred to the Public, citizens who took an interest in public affairs, as the "Peanut Gallery". That kind of condescension is intolerable, and smacks of monarchism, czarism or dictatorship.

Basically Randy has represented downtown business owners, solely, and had nothing to offer that Michael Self and Dale Francisco have not already proffered up *ad nauseum*. People are fed up with empty slogans and want office holders with detailed insight into complex issues not simplifications which might be suitable for an electorate which consisted of illiterates.

You brought the "overseas/all over the map" rants up there good buddy.As usual, your lack of looking into the source wins yet again. Now get back to Socialism 101, I hear you got a midterm coming up :) henry